The New England Colonies: Establishment and Settlement of the 13 original colonies

Map of New EnglandThe Map highlights the region of New England. The four New England Colonies of Colonial America included the colonies of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay Colony, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

New England Colonies ChartThe New England Colonies Chart provides important information and interesting facts about each of the 4 Colonies of New England including the date the colony was established, the system of Colonial government, religion, and the names of famous people associated with the founding and establishment each New England colony. The New England Colonies Chart provides the ability to see at a glance the differences between the regions on a chart.

New England Colonies Chart

Date

Name of Colonyor Settlement

Government

Religion

Towns

FamousPeople

1630

Massachusetts Colony

Charter

Puritan

Boston, Quincy, Plymouth, Salem, Lexington and Concord

John Winthrop

1636

Rhode Island Colony

Charter

Religious Freedom

Providence, Portsmouth and Newport

Roger WilliamsAnne Hutchinson

1636

Connecticut Colony

Charter

Puritan

Hartford, New Haven, Wethersfield and Windsor

Thomas Hooker

1638

New Hampshire Colony

Royal

Puritan

Dover and Exeter

John Mason

New England Colonies Chart

Facts and Information about the New England ColoniesFacts about the New England Colonies of Colonial America. The New England Colonies are also referred to as the North Colonies:

Fact 1 - Geography: The geography of New England consisted of mountains thick with trees, rivers and poor rocky soil that was difficult to farm and unsuitable for crops

Fact 6: Farming was difficult for crops like wheat because of the poor soil but corn, pumpkins, rye, squash and beans were raised

New England Colonies Colonies - Economic Activity & TradeThere were considerable differences between the New England, Middle and Southern regions. Economic activities and trade were dependant of the environment in which the Colonists lived. The geography and climate impacted the trade and economic activities of New England Colonies. In the New England towns along the coast, the colonists made their living fishing, whaling, and shipbuilding. The fish included cod, mackerel, herring, halibut, hake, bass and sturgeon. Whale oil was a valuable resource as it could be used in lamps. Farming was difficult in New England for crops like wheat because of the poor soil but corn, pumpkins, rye, squash and beans were planted. The Northern Colonies of New England concentrated in manufacture and focussed on town life and industries such as ship building and the manufacture and export of rum. See Triangular Trade.

New England in the 1700's - For additional facts and info refer to Colonial Society.

Government in the New England ColoniesAll of the systems of government in the New England Colonies elected their own legislature, they were all democratic, they all had a governor, governor's court, and a court system. The government systems used by the New England Colonies were Royal of Charter. Definitions of the government systems are as follows:

Royal Government: The Royal Colonies were ruled directly by the English monarchy

Charter Government: The Charter Colonies were generally self-governed, and their charters were granted to the colonists.

The original names of the New England Colonies were the Province of New Hampshire, later New Hampshire, the Province of Massachusetts Bay, later Massachusetts and Maine, the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, later Rhode Island and the Connecticut Colony, later Connecticut.

New England Colonies TimelineDiscover interesting information and facts about the history of the New England colonies. For a more comprehensive history timeline detailing specific events relating to all of the 13 Colonies refer to Colonial America Time Period. This New England Colonies Timeline provides a list detailing key events and dates of this amazing period in Colonial history. The four New England Colonies of Colonial America included the colonies of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay Colony, Rhode Island and Connecticut. A comprehensive list of the key events which are important to the New England Colonies Timeline. Additional interesting information can be found in Facts about the 13 Colonies.

New England Colonies Timeline

New England Colonies Timeline

1620

The Pilgrim Fathers, or Pilgrims founded the colony of Plymouth in New England in 1620, located in present-day Massachusetts. The Mayflower Compact was a legal document written by the Pilgrims to specify basic laws and social rules for their new colony.

1620

The Pilgrims, the founders of Plymouth, arrived in 1620. John Mason and Sir Ferdinando Gorges, the "Father of English Colonization in North America" had received land in northern New England which became the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1628. John Mason eventually formed New Hampshire and the land of Sir Ferdinando Gorges led to Maine. Massachusetts Bay Colony controlled both regions until New Hampshire was given a royal charter in 1679 and Maine was made its own state in 1820.

1630

The Great Migration - Mass migration of thousands of English people to the Americas that took place between 1630 and 1640.

1636

Connecticut was initially settled colonists, led by Thomas Hooker, left the Massachusetts Bay Colony due to dissatisfaction and settled in the Connecticut River Valley. In 1639, three settlements joined to form a unified government creating a document called the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, the first written constitution in America. King Charles II officially united Connecticut as a single colony in 1662.

1636

Rhode Island. Roger Williams was banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony and founded Providence. Anne Hutchinson was also banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony and she settled Portsmouth. Two additional settlements were also formed in the area. All 4 settlements received a charter from England creating their own government eventually called Rhode Island.

The Lords of Trade are appointed in England to enforce the new mercantile system and maximize potential profits for England

1679

New Hampshire. John Mason received land in northern New England which formed the Massachusetts Bay Colony. John Mason eventually formed New Hampshire when the region was given a royal charter in 1679

1686

Formation of New England - King James II combines the colonies of Connecticut, Massachusetts Bay Colony, Plymouth, Rhode Island, New York, New Hampshire, East Jersey and West Jersey into a single colony: The Dominion of New England.

1688

King James II appoints Sir Edmund Andros to serve as Captain General and Governor in Chief of New England. Sir Edmund Andros causes dissension with the colonists as he does not have to answer to any elected assembly

1688

1688 - 1763 The French and Indian Wars between France and Great Britain for lands in North America

1689

Feb 13, 1689 The Glorious Revolution. The Protestant William III and Mary II officially replace the Catholic James II as monarchs of England. The English Bill of Rights which enables Parliament to control laws and taxes

1689

Mar 1689 Glorious Revolution Sparks Revolt in the colonies. Boston militiamen seize Governor-in-Chief Andros and put him in jail. The New England colonies begin to re-establish governments. Jacob Leisler (1640-1691) was a German immigrant who led the insurrection against local colonial officials from 1689 to 1691 in colonial New York

1696 Salutary Neglect. The British government establishes the Board of Trade to oversee colonial policies practicing a policy of "Salutary Neglect," in which it gives the colonies considerable freedom in economic matters.

1707

1707 The Union between England and Scotland created the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain' and the term British, as opposed to English, is then used in reference to the colonists in North America.

1722

Wabanaki-New England War of 1722–1725 aka Father Rale's War or Lovewell's War in Maine

1763

The Royal Proclamation of 1763 was issued October 7, 1763 bringing the introduction of the massive boundary, which was the Proclamation Line between the colonies and Indian Territories

1764

Sugar Act

1765

1765 The Stamp Act of 1765

1765

The Sons of Liberty was an an organization (a secret society) formed by American Patriots who opposed British measures against the colonists, and agitated for resistance

1767

1767 Townshend Acts

1770

March 5, 1770: The Boston Massacre during which British troops killed 5 Boston civilians.

1773

Tea Act

1774

December 16: The Boston Tea Party - Massachusetts patriots dressed as Mohawk Indians protested against the British Tea Act

1775

The American Revolution (1775- 1783) ended the Colonial America Time Period

1776

A document declaring the US to be independent of the British Crown was signed on July 4, 1776, by the congressional representatives of the 13 Colonies

New England Colonies Timeline

New England Colonies Timeline - 1607 to 1776

Map of the New England Colonies

New England ColoniesThe New England Colonies article provides important information and interesting facts at a glance about the New England Colonies including the date the colonies were established, the systems of government, religions, details of trade and the economic activities in the New England Colonies. The names of important people associated with the founding and establishment of the New England Colonies. A helpful, illustrated educational resource for teachers, kids and children.